Bryan Howland Soars to ASCS Patriot Score at Sharon

HARTFORD, OH, (May 29, 2010)- On a glorious Saturday Evening, she rewarded him handsomely with a $2,000 top prize.

Howland scored his 15th career ASCS Patriot A-Main win in convincing fashion, leading the final 24 circuits and proving to everyone that his quest for a fourth championship is on.

“The car was just about perfect, the guys did a great job with the setup,” admitted Howland, 23, in Victory Lane. “I just had to tug the wing back a little and it was good to go.”

The defending series champion dominated his National Parts Peddler Heat Race from the outside pole, laying down the quickest lap of the night of 14.17 seconds around the fast 3/8-mile oval. When the wheelman of the Filtrec Corporation No. 51 drew the outside pole for the feature, the stars were in place for his first win of the 2010 season.

On the opening lap, polesitter and defending Memorial Weekend Sharon Winner Blake Breen was able to get the jump on Howland and lead the field around a freshly groomed racetrack. Even though the No. 8 was in front, it was clear that Howland had something for him.

On the second lap around, Howland completed a move to inherit the top spot and began to put distance on Breen and the rest of the pack. A lap six caution would allow everyone to close in on Howland, but the leader was prolific on each restart.

Scott Bonnell was able to move into second on the races first restart using the bottom line and made it seem as if he would have something for Howland. On the ensuing restart though it was reaffirmed that Howland was the class of the field on the night.

The three-time Patriot Champion stretched out his lead to nearly five seconds as he took the white flag. Before he could come home to the double-checkered flags though, the race would have one more pause and add some anxiety for the leader.

Bobby Breen, who was running fifth, spun out and was attempting to nurse a flat right front tire to the finish when his car pushed entering turn one, making hard contact with the outside retaining wall. When the field was sorted for the restart, Howland had a cushion of four lapped cars over second place.

When asked in Victory Lane if he was aware of his lead coming to a one-lap finish, Howland replied, “I had lapped cars in between? I had no idea. I figured the lead was pretty good but I thought I lost it all when the caution came out. That last yellow really got me nervous.”

With the win, Howland passed Rick Wilson for second on the All-Time ASCS Patriot Wins List and also strengthened his early season point lead.

Scott Bonnell appeared to have a second-place finish well in hand when a broken steering component sent his No. 3B diving to the infield just as the caution was coming out for Bobby Breen on lap 24. Bonnell’s misfortune would open up the door for Jared Zimbardi, who was able to move up from 10th and score his second straight Patriot runner-up finish.

Judi Bates picked up her best career Patriot finish with a fine third place effort. Kyle Moffit ran up from his 12th starting position to finish in fourth. Running seventh with two laps to go, Moffit moved by Bobby Breen, then inherited a spot when Bonnell dropped out and finally passed Don Adamczyk on the final lap.

Adamczyk’s fifth place showing was his best at Sharon in three starts. He would hold off Tim Kelly at the line, who would echo Adamczyk’s accomplishment with a sixth place effort.

Bubba Broderick and Blake Breen rounded out the lead lap cars in seventh and eighth, respectively. Bonnell and Gary Edwards, who scored the Bonnell’s Collision Centers Four Laps of Fame Dash Win, completed the top-10.

Along with Howland, Gary Kriess won a heat in National Parts Peddler competition. As the No. 92 was coming off of turn four on the final lap of his heat, he felt the motor seize up and would have to retire his ride for the evening.